An embellished memoir, in short spurts.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia! They’re not just pets anymore, or How I lost 9 pounds.

We, of the Brady Bunch Generation, had Mood Rings, and Pet Rocks and Chai Pets. (Yes, yes, platform shoes, but that’s for another day.)

If you are a child of the 1970’s, you probably remember watching these commercials ad nauseam.

In a country where millions of dollars are spent to get rid of “ugly” dandelions from our lawns, killing this cancer-destroying plant given to us abundantly, it should be no surprise that Chia seeds, a highly nutritious food were marketed as, well, a toy.

Chia seeds are abundant in the Omega-3s (“healthy fats”) and also fiber, which means they help make you feel full. If you’re like me, and always feel hungry, this is a godsend.

After adding Chia seeds to my diet, er, food plan, all I can say is: Wow, I actually feel full. It’s a miracle.

I add the Chia seeds to my oatmeal in the morning, along with some flax seed (yes, my Green Grocer loves me) and some almond butter. I’m not sure why, but almond butter is supposed to be healthier than peanut butter. I love them both, and peanut butter is less expensive. But I’m investing in me. [It’s not an expense, it’s an investment. 😉 This is a great quote for college tuition too!]

Chia seeds also have lots of protein, and also phosphorus and manganese–which are good for our bones.

So when I went to the doctor’s office to check in, I had lost 9 pounds in the past 3 months (without killing myself!– although I did add activity to each day) and my blood pressure is way down–back into the normal range.

As soon as you finish reading this blog, I am sure you will read another article telling you that there is no evidence that Chia seeds help you lose weight.

All I can tell you is what happened to me.

To me it sounds logical: Add a food item that is high in protein and fiber and it will help you feel full, therefore helping to avoid cookie-meltdowns and swims to the bottom of the ice cream container.

AND OH: Don’t forget to drink LOTS of water. Yes, this will mean more trips to the bathroom. But the water bulks it up and gets rid of the toxins. So it will really clean you out.

Personally, I will continue adding the Chia seeds to my oatmeal, and occasionally to my salad (if there are a lot of different veggies floating around in the salad, and a yummy dressing, you won’t even notice the seeds are there.)

So if anyone can tell me why almond butter is better than peanut butter, please feel free to chime in.

Also, if you have used Chia seeds to detox or lose weight, let me know how it’s working for you.

Congrats on the easy weight loss (that’s the best kind isn’t it?!)! If you like chia seeds, you’d probably also like hemp seeds (also called hemp hearts). They add a nice crunch/nutty taste to food. They don’t have the fiber content of chia but they have double the protein and lots of good fats.

I can chime in a little on the almond butter vs. peanut butter thing. The most common issue I hear why people avoid peanut butter is that it can be a source of aflatoxin, a naturally occurring toxic mold that is a well known carcinogen. It can grow on peanut crops (as well as other crops – wheat, pistachios, walnuts, corn and others) if they are stored in warm damp conditions. Peanuts / peanut butter tend to test at higher levels of this toxin than some of the other crops who also can develop it (which is probably why so many people avoid it but not those other things) but the FDA does test for aflatoxin in peanut butter and very low levels of it are allowed in products. One way to reduce your exposure is to make sure you don’t keep nuts or peanut butter for long periods of time. Toss them after a few months – especially if you live in a warm humid climate.